Senior Center

Each day, over 500 people age 55 and over attend the 42,000 square foot Arlington Heights Senior Center. Our amenities include an indoor walking trail, woodshop, café, computer lab, reading room, billiards, gift shop, a lending closet of durable medical equipment and the Arlington Athletic Club. We also publish a bimonthly newsletter/program guide. Services are also provided to homebound senior citizens.

The Senior Center's unique organizational structure of eight senior service agencies located under one roof allows our patrons to take advantage of "one-stop shopping." Through these eight organizations, more than 12,000 senior citizens and their families are served each year.

The Senior Center celebrated its 25th anniversary in September 2008. The Senior Center won the Association of Illinois Senior Center’s “Program of the Year, December 2008” and the Senior Center Manager won the Association’s “Senior Center Director of the Year, December 2008.”

The Senior Center was founded in 1982 by the Village of Arlington Heights in the retired Park School. In 1996, the Village foresaw the need for additional space, parking and amenities and in 1997 developed the 42,000 square foot state- of-the-art Senior Center which opened in 1997 and was officially dedicated on January 31, 1998.

Contact UsWe can be reached at 847.253.5532.

Directions
The Village of Arlington Heights Senior Center is located at 1801 W. Central Road, at the southwest corner of Central Road & New Wilke Road; approximately 1/2 mile west of Northwest Community Hospital.

Hours of Operation

Mondays & Wednesdays
8:30 AM to 8 PM

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Saturdays
8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Buddy Bench

More than 500 people age 55 and over attend the 42,000 square foot Arlington Heights Senior Center (AHSC) each day. Amenities of the center include an indoor walking trail, woodshop, café, computer lab, reading room, billiards, gift shop, a lending closet of durable medical equipment and the Arlington Athletic Club. Additionally, valuable health and wellness educational programs, tax assistance and other services are available. The AHSC’s unique organizational structure of eight senior service agencies located under one roof allows patrons to take advantage of a variety of programs and services to suit their needs and interests.

The Challenge: Social Isolation Even with all that the center has to offer, some patrons may find it difficult to connect with people as they age, and feelings of loneliness and isolation can lead to serious health consequences. Seniors who feel lonely and isolated are more likely to report having poor physical and/or mental health, as reported in a study using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Northwest Community Healthcare’s Behavioral Health Navigator noted the pervasive problem of loneliness in her depression support group that she leads and brought forth the idea of the Buddy Bench as a way to combat social isolation. Other studies have found that feelings of loneliness are linked to poor cognitive performance and quicker cognitive decline. Moreover, social isolation has been reported to make seniors more vulnerable to elder abuse, depression, and even high blood pressure.

The Solution: Buddy Bench As a respected community resource, the AHSC is duty bound to address social isolation so that it can help keep its patrons healthy both physically and mentally. With the grant funding from the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights, installing a Buddy Bench will afford the AHSC patrons the opportunity to connect with new people and feel like they’re part of a community. The Buddy Bench will be used as a vehicle for patrons to talk to each other more and become friendly stewards of the senior center. In short, the Buddy Bench will bridge loneliness, bring comfort, build community, foster friendships and advocate inclusion.

Buddy Bench Strategies Buddy Bench Users (BBUs): The rule for BBUs is simple. If a BBU chooses to sit on the bench, he/she must say “yes” to the person who asks the BBU to walk, talk or join an activity. In the spirit of the meaning of the bench, no user should ever be selective about who joins them. Buddy Bench Ambassadors (BBAs): The AHSC staff will select a handful of “regular” outgoing patrons to be BBAs. If no other patron approaches the BBU within three to five minutes, a BBA should approach the individual and sit down on the bench to talk. If the Buddy Bench has been occupied for five minutes and no one at all has approached the BBU, the AHSC front desk staff person will approach the individual and offer assistance. Placement: The Buddy Bench will be placed in plain view in the lobby so that it’s seen from various angles for optimum usage and quick response.

Buddy Bench Promotional Activity Plan It will be important to properly promote the new bench so that it’s used frequently and with positive results. Success stories should be shared as often as possible to promote continued usage by new individuals.

Senior Citizens Commission

The purpose of the Senior Citizens Commission is to promote the needs and concerns of the senior citizens of the Village and to cooperate with the Village Government and all other governmental agencies in the promotion of the causes of senior citizens.

The Village of Arlington Heights Snow Shoveling Referral Program provides Arlington Heights residents who are over age 60 or who have a disability with the names and contact information of teens willing to shovel snow.

By participating in this snow shoveling referral program and providing contact information, residents wanting your assistance will be provided with a list of teens willing to shovel snow in your area. The resident is responsible for contacting the teen and for making the scheduling and financial arrangements. The teen is responsible for snow shoveling or notifying the resident if they are unable to complete the work.

This program was initiated by the Arlington Heights Youth Commission, endorsed by the Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission and the Arlington Heights Commission for Citizens with Disabilities.

The Village does not do background checks on any of the participants, teens or seniors citizens or persons with disabilities. Both parties should do their own interview and/or reference check if desired, before signing on with a particular client or teen. Referrals for teens, senior citizens and persons with disabilities will come through the Arlington Heights Senior Center.

What if there are no teen shovelers in my area?
We might not have enough teens to refer to our residents. It’s a voluntary program and not intended to be the resident’s only option for snow shoveling.How do I know what to pay/charge for this service? That is up to the resident and the teen. The suggested range is $10.00 to $15.00 per hour.What if the teen shoveler does not show up? Try to reconnect with the teen. If you do not receive a timely return call, then consider contacting another teen about your snow shoveling needs.

Volunteer Opportunities

Drivers We need people to drive home-bound seniors to medical appointments and to deliver Meals-on-Wheels.

Reception Volunteer If you are looking for a position that "makes time fly" this position may be for you! Assist with telephone/reception activities. Candidates must have good phone skills and be able to use the computer. For additional information on all volunteer opportunities please call 847.253.5532.